This is a great tire, but not great for this car and my driving style. I sized this -1 (factory OEM is 17"), and in doing so created the majority of my "gripes" I have with this tire. The size I bought it in has been discontinued.

I have been using snows for the past 20 years, and I've tried Blizzaks, Generals, Firestones, Goodyears, Dunlops. I average around 7K a year driving in the winter on snows.

Good: The tire is an exceptional snow tire. Period. Snow to this tire is a traction additive. Deep snow, slush, light snow - not a problem. The tire hangs on very well when set on a singular course in the dry. Reasonably quiet. Stable under braking.

Bad: If you're a normal driver (commuter), *obey* the speed limit, etc. 95% of the bad won't apply to you. Because it is an exceptional snow tire, it leaves a lot to be desired in the dry. This tire is heavily siped so the tread-blocks are squishy. Full throttle acceleration isn't advised.

The web is full of comments of people complaining about the soft sidewalls, which I didn't heed. The sidewalls are *soft* and as a result I feel the tire compress over bumps before the car does. Somewhat unsettling if your car is stiffly sprung like the WRX is as you feel it "pogo" over transitions. Should you need to do a quick transition at highway speeds it is a sphincter clinching event. Just plan on hitting whatever you're trying to avoid if you're doing anything over 40 - the tires are easily overwhelmed.

Conclusion:

- A GREAT SNOW TIRE
- Very soft sidewalls - not intended for "sportier" or "firmly damped" cars.
- Surprisingly good tread wear - I wore off less than 2/32nds in 6711 miles of driving.
- These are not Blizzaks - on ice you're pretty much on your own unless you get studs. Given the price, I wasn't expecting them to match a Blizzak's performance.